Fallout (56 page)

WEDDING RECEPTIONS

Are good for one thing specifically.

Liquor. Mostly champagne, usually,

but Liam’s parents kindly paid for

a hosted bar. Now I’m definitely not

old enough to fool the bartender.

But I’ve got the sympathy thing

going on. Micah has talked his older

siblings into providing us both

with stiff drinks.
Just think if your

father showed up after eight years.

Wouldn’t you want a nip of stress

reliever too? Anyway, we’re celebrating.

Aunt Cora issued strict orders:

No matter what, there will be no

fights. No arguments. No name-

calling. Plenty of time to sort

this out tomorrow. Right?
Yeah.

When she’s on her honeymoon.

Trey tried to make conversation.

So did Maureen. I asked for some

time to think things over. So far,

they’ve respected that. Makes me

happy. Or maybe it’s the mojitos.

Micah and I are sloshing them down.

THE MORE I THINK ABOUT BRYCE

And how he left without giving me

a chance to explain … how he left

without even saying good-bye …

the faster I slosh. By the time

Aunt Cora and Liam shove cake

in each other’s faces, I am completely,

amazingly, dizzyingly drunk. You

might even say I’m smashed.

I want to laugh. I want to cry.

Neither appropriate for where

I am right now. “I think I better

get some fresh air,” I tell Micah.

He is sitting very close to me,

leg hooked in front of mine.

Why didn’t I notice that before?

Good idea. I’ll come with you.

I’m a little unsteady on my feet.

Micah slips his hand under one

elbow, steers me toward the door.

No one notices our exit. Good.

The cool December air clears

my head a little. Also makes me

shiver. Micah slides an arm

around my shoulder, pulls me

against his warmth.
Better?

Weird day, huh? Sorry ’bout

your boyfriend. What was up

with him, anyway?
He stops walking,

waits for me to answer. Not

ready to talk about it. “He just …

was overwhelmed, I guess.”

He. Bryce. I should pull away.

But he isn’t here. He left me

behind. And I like how I feel

under Micah’s arm. This is messed

up. Oh God. I am going to cry.

Here, now, don’t do that.
He kisses

the tears from the corners of

my eyes. His lips are soft as they

move over my cheeks. And suddenly …

WE ARE KISSING

And this is not like any first kiss.

There is no love here. Only want.

He wants me, but that’s not what

I want. Not now. Not with him.

And my head is spinning. And his

hands are all over me. “No. Wait …”

Ah, come on. You want this as much

as I do.
And he pushes me against

a wall. Dark here. No lights.

I could … But I can’t. Bryce.

I love Bryce. “No. I don’t. Stop,

please.” But he doesn’t even slow

down.
You little prick tease.

His breath is rum and his hands

are rough. And he is strong.

Too strong for my drunken struggle.

Just as I’m sure he’ll do exactly as

he pleases, a male voice interrupts.

Take your hands off her, you little

shit, or I’ll kick your lily-white ass.

It’s Trey. I never thought I’d

actually be happy to see him.

Micah acts like I’m burning him.

He lets go so fast, I sway without

his support.
Uh. Okay. Sorry, man.

We’re just a little d-drunk here, a-a-and

I … guess we got our signals crossed.

Not looking for trouble.
He whips

a U-turn, heads back toward

the party. “I, uh … Thank you.”

It’s all I can say to Trey before a half

pitcher of mojitos comes boiling

up my throat. Talk about burning!

I turn my head and let it fly.

Summer
CONDEMNED

One thing I’ve learned.

Life isn’t fair. Even when

you try to do the right thing,

someone else’s wrong

thing bites you in the ass.

Dad drives drunk. Stoned.

The judge throws the book

at him. Still, it’s me going

away. He’ll be out of jail

long before I escape foster

care. Maybe if I hadn’t

been such a smart-ass to

her, Kortni would have

agreed to keep me in

her care. Probably not.

The State of California

is concerned about your

welfare
, Ms. Shreeveport

said when she delivered

the good news.
I wish it

were possible to leave you

here, but your safety is our

prime concern. Drug use and

driving under the influence

cannot be tolerated. We’ve

found you a new placement.

Unfortunately, it’s in Fresno
,

so you’ll have to change

schools. But at least you’ll

have the vacation to settle in.

New home. New foster

parents. New school. Just

when everything was going

kind of okay right here. Dad

and I were communicating.

Kortni and I were in truce

mode. I was getting good

grades. Excelling, in fact.

Will they even have AP

classes in my new school?

And what about Kyle? He

and I were hanging strong.

I don’t want to be without

him. My life will be a well,

drained to gravel and dust.